Welcome to my full 7-day review of Meguiar’s Ultimate Insane Shine Tire Spray. This solvent-based formula promises “insane shine,” a deep wet-look gloss, and long-lasting protection thanks to a high molecular weight polymer. But does it actually deliver?
Let’s put it to the test.
Day 1 – First Impressions & Application
To start, I weighed the bottle: 1.040 lbs. This helps track how much product is used per tire.
I used my go-to 3-spray method—3 sprays directly onto an applicator pad, then worked it into the tire. This method gives you clean, controlled, and consistent coverage without waste or sling.
The tire shine had a faint motor oil smell, which is common for solvent-based formulas. It also felt slightly oily—another sign that it’s a high-gloss, concentrated product.
While applying, I made sure to use firm pressure and swipe in multiple directions to get full coverage, especially in the grooves. Even with just 3 sprays, the tire looked great: deep, dark, and glossy.
After applying, I reweighed the bottle. It was now 1.036 lbs, meaning I used just 0.004 lbs—about 5 cents per tire, or 20 cents for all four. That’s very cost-efficient.
After 30 minutes, the product had dried completely. It wasn’t greasy and had a strong, glossy finish. I took the car for a quick spin, and after checking the wheel wells, I’m happy to report: no sling.
Day 2 – Still Shining
With about 10 miles of light driving and the car mostly parked, the tires still looked great—no fading, no blotches. Shine levels were virtually unchanged from Day 1.
Day 3 – Real Driving Test
I drove 65 miles, mostly on the freeway, to my son’s volleyball tournament. (They won one of four games, but still a blast to watch!)
Despite the long drive, the shine remained bold and dark. It was holding up well to the road and speed.
Day 4 – Dust Challenge
To simulate rougher conditions, I drove through a dusty, unpaved parking lot. After a couple of laps, I inspected the tires.
Yes, dust did stick—but no more than it did on my other tires that also had tire shine. Solvent-based products tend to darken the rubber, which makes dust more visible. Overall, not bad.
Day 5 – Rinse & Shine Trick
After the dust test, I rinsed the tire with a garden hose to check how the shine would respond to water—and to show a trick for restoring shine.
Water quickly removed the loose dust and beaded off the surface, confirming that the product is still present and hydrophobic. After drying and brushing lightly, the tire regained much of its original shine.
Day 6 – Fog & Drizzle
Today was overcast with light drizzle. The tire has now seen 120 hours and over 110 miles of driving. While the gloss isn’t as intense as Day 1, it still has a deep, dark finish—better than most water-based products at this stage.
Day 7 – The Final Wash
It’s the last day of the review. As with all tire shines, the finish eventually fades, especially with exposure to dust and moisture.
I decided to do a full tire cleaning to prepare for the next product test. Here’s why this is important: if you apply new tire shine over old residue, it won’t bond well and can cause streaking or sling.
I used a triple wash process: rinse, spray tire cleaner, scrub, and repeat three times. On the first rinse, water still beaded off, showing that the product hadn’t fully washed away. By the third cycle, the water spread evenly, signaling the product was gone.
Final Verdict: Is Meguiar’s Ultimate Insane Shine Worth It?
Yes—when applied correctly.
This tire shine lives up to its name with a bold, wet look that lasts. Its hydrophobic behavior, low cost per use, and strong resistance to sling make it a great choice—especially if you like your tires to pop.
As with most solvent-based formulas, less is more. A thin, even coat is all you need. Many of the complaints about sling or blotchy results come down to poor application technique.
